Israel could seek to end BDS leader Omar Barghouti’s residency by declaring him disloyal, but doing so presents a giant PR problem. Better– he’s a security threat. And lawmaker Keti Shitrit says he threatens Israel’s “universal security.”
Palestinian messaging about human rights is working. A rightwing Israeli thinktank says anti-Zionism is growing in the U.S. Jewish community. A “possibly significant minority (which may be up to 25%) appears to hold beliefs that are intensely critical of Israel and Zionism itself, including attitudes that Zionism may be a colonial and/or racist, apartheid movement as practiced in Israel today.” Even more, 31 percent, would vote for Rashida Tlaib because she is a progressive!
As part of COVID-19 series in Palestine, Yumna Patel traveled to the Jordan Valley to see what life is like for Palestinians there as they fight two battles: one against the coronavirus, and one against annexation. “In this area, the occupation is even worse for us than the coronavirus pandemic. The occupation has taken advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to take over more land in the Jordan Valley,” Motaz Bisharat, a Palestinian activist based in the northern Jordan Valley tells Mondoweiss.
The deals with the UAE and Bahrain show Israel’s economic power and favor in Washington–and expose its persecution of Palestinians in the name of “the one and only Jewish state,” as Netanyahu describes his country.
The Bahrain-Israel deal is significant because the kingdom is a virtual protectorate of the Saudis. There are serious concerns that a Saudi involvement with Israel will only lead to further tightening of measures against the Palestinian cause. And Iran will rise in prestige in Palestinian global affairs.
Trump’s Bahrain-Israel pact is a power politics move and has been embraced by Israel lobby groups, Democratic reps, and the NYT, all of which bash Palestinians. But in fact it only advances the one-state struggle for democracy inside Israel and Palestine.
“Dear colleagues, I ask you to take a few minutes of your time to act in support of Palestinians and against the illegal procedure of administrative detention.” Prof. Imad Barghouthi asks for international support as he waits for an Israeli court to review the military order that put him under administrative detention for four months.
Adie Mormech writes that direct action has always been a key component of international solidarity with liberation movements that were fought and won, and we haven’t used enough of it for Palestine: “We know it works and we know what the Palestinians are facing – so we have no excuses.”
Jamal Manasra is seeking justice for his son Ahmad, who was killed by an Israeli soldier in 2019 while helping the victims of a car accident. “We knew from the very beginning that as Palestinians, it wouldn’t be easy for us to get justice for our son, even if he was innocent, that’s not how things work with the Israeli occupation,” Manasra tells Mondoweiss. “But even with low expectations, we were devastated when we were informed of the plea deal. How could they have such disregard for Ahmad’s life?”
Puma has been calling for action against hate. But Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak asks, “So why is Puma supporting the hate which is destroying lives and poisoning the beautiful game?”